Shunting-lever.



No. 705,974. Patented my 29, |902. Y w. TAYLOR. l i SHUNTING LEVER.

. (Application filed Apr. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Ng. 705,974. n V Patented July 29, |902.

W. TAYLOR.

SHUNTING LEVER.

(Application led Apr. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES.v

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, OF SANDIACRE, ENGLAND.

SHUNTlNG-LEVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,974, dated July 29, 1902. Application led April 15,1902. Serial No. 102.994. (No model.)

means whereby in case of need or of negligence (such as an engine being run backward through closed points) it shall be possible for the engine to pass backward through the points safely without straining or otherwise injuring the said appliance and its connections. To this end I so construct the appliance that that part of it to which the pointrod is connected is free to yield without'iniiuencin g the helical element or twist-cylinder, and so allow the closed points or switches to be opened sufliciently under pressure fromV the flanges of the wheels of the engine or train, but will resume'its prior position and reclose the points or switches directly the rolling load has passed through them onto the rails beyond. According to a convenient arrangement insteadof mounting the said helical element on a round'spindle or axle xed at both ends in bearings I now mount it on a flat axle-bar capable of slight torsion and iix this bar at one end only, and instead of forming the plain cylindrical part, to which the point-rod is connected, in one with the helical element I form it as a separate or independent piece and mount it loosely on the said nat axle-bar.

I will now describe my improvements fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one mode of carrying it out, and wherein the same lettersof'reference indicate like or corresponding parts to those inthe said prior specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shuntinglever or switching appliance constructed in accordance with mypresent improvements. Fig. 2`is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking toward the left of, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 looking toward the right. Fig.'6 is an elevation of the left-hand end of the helical element; Fig. 7, a central transverse section thereof, and Fig. S an elevation of the right-hand end. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a loose bush made use of in the appliance.

' Fig. 10 is a plan ofthe flat axle-bar, and Fig.

11 is an elevation of the same.

The bed-'plate c is provided with three upright bearings d CZ cl2, in which is supported the axle-bar c of the helical element or twistcylinder a. This barv is of iat bladelike form (see Figs. 10 and\11) andVv is of steel or other suitable metal tempered so as to bear a torsional strain without injury. One end of it is formed into or'providedwith a cylindrical head u, which rests in a circular hole i in the bearing d2, and the otherend is formed or provided with a screw-threaded pin lw or other means for enabling it to be held firmly vat that end.

The helical element a has a suitably-shaped slot-say a double-ended keyhole-slot g/-extendingthroughout its length (see Figs. 3, 5, and 6) and is mounted loose on the axle-bar c. Said keyhole-slot gradually tapers from one end to the other and lits the axle-bar c closely at the end to the left of Fig. 1, but is wide enough at the opposite end to afford the said bar a certain amount of lateral play.

g is the plain cylindrical piece separate from Ythe helical element and bearing lugs h, to which the point or'switchro'd is connected by a bolt. This piece takes the place of the plain cylindrical end of the helical ele- 'm'ent in the arrangement described in the prior specification, but has, like the helical element, a double ended keyhole slot y through it and normally in alinement therewith. Said piece is mounted loose on the axle-bar c. l

b is the cored nut fitting the helical element and operated, as formerly, by the handleverj, pivoted at 7a and working inthe slot m and engaging the stops p on said nut. On pulling the hand-lever over in either direction the nut h is forced to traverse the helical element va, and the rotary motion thereby imparted to the latter causes,` through the intervention-of the piece g andaxlebar c, the movement of the point or switch rod i in the desired direction, and thus effects vthe opening or closing of the points or switches.

e is a separate loose cylindrical bush (shown detached in Fig. 9) resting partly in a hole in the bearing CZ' and partly in a recess b', formed IOO for lits reception in one end of the nut b. This bush, which serves as a support at this point for .the axle-bar c, has also the keyholeslot through it and is mounted loose on said bar.

The guide-slot o in the bed-plate c and the pin n on the nut Z7 are now arranged slanting or at an angle to the axis of the helical element, as seen best in plan view, Fig. 2. This arrangement has been adopted as beinglikely to work more smoothly and with less wear and tear of the parts, as less twist need be put on the helical element.

The appliance is secured, by means of bolts I f, to blocks or sleepers at the side of the rails.

The action is as follows: If an engine or train after having run through the points or switches and onto the part of the line beyond the same be run or running backward again over the same points or switches before they have been opened by the pointsman, the ianges of the wheels will insinuate themselves between the point-rail and the main rail,'and so automatically open the points or switches sniiiciently to permit of the passage of the wheels without damage tol any of the parts concerned. The point-rod being connected to the separate or independent piece g will yield, (be moved backward,) together with the said piece, when pressure is put on it by the opening movement of the point-rail, A

and this backward movement of the pointrod will, through the intervention of the said piece g, exert a torsional strain on the iat axle-bar c, which being held firmly at the end w will twists lightly from thaty end toward the opposite end, and thus permit the required movement of the point-rod, and hence of the point-rails. After the engine has passed through the points or switches the latter are automatically closed again by the twisted axle-bar c regaining its normal condition, the consequent movement of which is communicated, through the piece g and lugs h, to the point pr switch rod z'.

The amount of twist of the axle-bar c which it is possible to produce is limited only by the degree of taper given to the double keyholeslot in the helical element.

The dotted lines in Fig. l0 illustrate the way the bar c twists, the line c representing the bottom edge of such bar.

The appliance herein described is also applicable to the working of signals on railways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim isl. In a shunting-lever or switching appliance, the combination of a helical element provided with a slot, a cylindrical element or piece in alinement therewith and provided with a slot, and a iiat axle-bar passing through the slot in both said elements, said liat axlebar being capable of a slight torsion at one end only, thereby permitting the said cylindrical element to move independently of the helical element.

2. In a shunting-lever or switching appliance, the combination of a helical element provided with a tapering slot, a cylindrical element separate therefrom but in alinement therewith and provided with a tapering slot, 1

and a liat axle-bar passing through said slots and held at one end only but capable of slight torsion at the other end, so permitting the cylindrical element to move without influencing the helical element.

3. In a shouting-lever or switching appliance, the combination of a helical element provided with a tapering double-ended keyhole-slot, a cored nut adapted to traverse the same and provided with means for preventingits rotation, a cylindrical element in aline-` ment with said helical element but capable of amovement independent of the helical element, said cylindrical element provided with a tapering double-ended keyhole-slot, and a fiat axle-bar passing through the slots and on which bar said elements-are mounted, said bar being held firmly at one end only but capable of slight torsion at the other end, and means for operating said shunting-lever or switching appliance.

4:. In a shunting-lever or switching appliance, the combination of a helical element provided with a double-ended tapering keyhole-slot extending axially therethrough, a traveling nut mounted thereon, a lever for operating said nut, a cylindrical element in alinement with said helical element and provided with a double-ended tapering keyholeslot extending axially therethrough, a flat axle-bar passing loosely through said slots, a slotted bush mounted between the helical and the cylindrical elements and supported in an intermediate bearing, the ends of said axlebar being mounted in end bearings in a manner to permit the cylindrical element to move independently of the helical element, by a slight torsionv on one end of said axle-bar.

5. In a shouting-lever or switching appliance comprising a helical element provided with a tapering double-ended keyhole-slot extending axially therethrough, a cored nut adapted to traverse the same, a lever operating said nut, a cylindrical element in aline- IOO ment with said helical element provided with a tapering double-ended keyhole-slot extending axially therethrough, a bush arranged between said elements and provided with a ta-l pering double-ended keyhole-slot extending axially therethrough, the flat axle-bar, formed with a cylindrical head at one end and with a screw-threaded portion at the other end, adapted to pass through said elements and bush, and bearings to su pport the ends of said axle-bar. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM TAYLOR. Witnesses MARK SHAW,

ALFRED CLARKE. 

